Twelve Florida schools were recognized Monday as National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education.
More than half are schools of choice: four are magnet schools and three are charter schools.
The awards are made in two categories: either on a school’s progress in closing achievement gaps for disadvantaged students or for high overall student achievement measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
The four magnet schools in Florida designated as exemplary high-performing for 2018 are: George Washington Carver Middle School and Herbert Ammons Middle School, both in Miami; Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary School in Tarpon Springs; and Stanton College Preparatory School in Jacksonville.
The three charter schools also named exemplary high-performing are: Archimedean Upper Conservatory in Miami; Pensacola Beach Elementary in Pensacola; and Somerset Academy Elementary in Miramar.
In total, 349 schools throughout the country were designated National Blue Ribbon Schools for this year. The federal program has recognized 8,800 schools in the past 36 years. Last year, all 12 Florida blue ribbon schools were schools of choice.
